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MOUNT PLEASANT, N.Y. - Voters approved a $50 million budget for the Mount Pleasant schools Tuesday by a 230-vote margin while also electing a new member to the Board of Education.
Newcomer Thomas McCabe was elected and incumbents Jim Grieco and Vincent D'Ambroso were re-elected. Board President Theresa Fowler was not re-elected.
"I really appreciate the support of the community in coming out and voting for me and I look forward to helping the district going forward," McCabe said.
Grieco received the most votes out of the four board candidates vying for three seats, with 725 votes. D'Ambroso received 695, McCabe, 600 and Fowler, 466.
This is the first time McCabe ran for the school board. He is a 20-year resident of Mount Pleasant and served on the district's 2010-11 budget committee. Grieco is currently the board vice president and the board's for facilities. D'Ambroso will serve his second term after being elected to the board in 2009. He is currently the district's audit committee chair and advocacy committee chairperson
Grieco said he looks forward to working with McCabe and wishes Fowler the best once her term is concluded.
"Anytime anyone from the community volunteers their time to serve the schools, I respect them," Grieco said in regards to McCabe. "Terry was a great leader and it was wonderful working with her and we'll miss her, but I think we have a great core going forward."
The budget, which passed 612-382, is within the state-mandated 2 percent cap on the tax. It includes reductions of $390,000 from last year's budget and the elimination of 10 aides from district schools. The budget will also eliminate a first-grade section.
The tax rate in Mount Pleasant will increase by 2.9 percent, or approximately $260 for the average house, which is assessed at $8,500.
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